This is a weird day for me, and probably many other similar-aged people, boys especially, who grew up in Baltimore in the 1960s and 70s. My childhood hero, Brooks Robinson, turns 80 today. 80! I knew that one day Brooks would no longer be playing third base for the Baltimore Orioles because I knew that I would be the one replacing him. Half of that knowledge proved accurate. But Brooks was never going to grow old, and while I was going to grow up, I wasn’t going to grow old either. Neither of those beliefs proved accurate.

Brooks played for the Orioles for 23 seasons beginning in 1955, so he was always there during my entire childhood. When I first began to comprehend the world, around the age of seven or eight, I quite naturally made the mistake of believing that this is the way the world has always been and the way it always will be. I always enjoyed history even at that age, but I viewed it about the same way that I viewed a movie: It wasn’t quite real. Then, somewhere in adolescence, I began to realize that change is a constant. My friend from 4th grade was not my friend in 10th grade who was somebody I had never met before. My parents were getting older. Some of their friends had died. I was changing, but through it all there was Brooks. Even as his talent diminished, even when he retired it didn’t matter because he was now a fixture, a great Touchstone to all that had been wonderful about growing up. In fact, when he did retire in 1977, I had met this girl named Martha, and we went to “Thanks, Brooks Day” at Memorial Stadium. Then my wife, Martha, and I attended the night in1983 when he was honored for his Hall of Fame induction, and of course, we attended the ceremony in Cooperstown. And when we were expecting our two children, there was no question what his name would be if indeed, the baby turned out to be a “he.”

People used to say that Brooks was “a magician” with the glove, which was true in that sports columnist kind of way, but he possesses a far greater magic than that. He can make my childhood reappear.

I “met” Brooks Robinson when I was seven; actually did meet him when I was eight and got his autograph several times since then. I regard all of those times as highlights of my life. What endears Brooks to so many of us is not just the Hall of Fame talent and the fact that he is a nice guy, but that he seems to take a genuine interest in each one of us. If we were all half as decent as Brooks Robinson, it would be a Hall of Fame world.

Don’t think you can get around on the fastball anymore, Brooks, but believe me, you still got the Magic. Happy birthday.

Advertisements

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

About Austin Gisriel

You know the guy that records a baseball game from the West Coast in July and doesn't watch it until January just to see baseball in the winter? That's me. I'm a writer always in search of a good story, baseball or otherwise.

8 Responses to Brooks, Still the Magician

Austin, Great tribute to an “incredible” fielder. Eighty is still YOUNG as my DAD turned 80 in October. Our first ballgame of this(regular) season to attend together is tomorrow night. Historic Bosse Field and our beloved 2016 Frontier League Champion Evansville Otters will be in full view tomorrow. We will be sitting down low right by the 3rd base bag in case “any magic” takes place at the hot corner. Brooks was certainly the true magician with the leather. WOW!! Dave Meyer

On Thu, May 18, 2017 at 6:07 AM, Austin Gisriel wrote:

> Austin Gisriel posted: “This is a weird day for me, and probably many > other similar-aged people, boys especially, who grew up in Baltimore in the > 1960s and 70s. My childhood hero, Brooks Robinson, turns 80 today. 80! I > knew that one day Brooks would no longer be playing third ba” >

My youth has escaped me but my love and admiration for the best third baseman there ever was is continuing. Thanks Brooks and happy birthday to a true legend. This from a lifelong Yankee fan and proud Marylander! You hit a homer with this one
Austin!

Blogroll

Ambitious Enterprises
Ally Peltier is an excellent editor/consultant for your writers looking for professional guidance.

Baseball Panoramic
Rob Noel’s great site takes you on virtual tours of MLB and historic ballparks

David Stinson's author blog
Please visit my buddy and fellow author David Stinson’s site. He has a real eye for baseball’s past; in fact, he sees it!

Deadball Baseball
Based on David Stinson’s novel, Deadball: A Metaphysical Baseball Novel

History: Preserved
This is a wonderful blog that often covers the home front during World War II, especially the recipes that were used to compensate for rationing. i had the privilege of meeting the author, Sarah Lee, at the 2017 WIlliamsport World War II Weekend.

Off the Beaten Basepaths & other videos
OTBB takes you to baseball treasures that are little known, underappreciated, or simply off the beaten basepaths! Subscribe now through Youtube so you don’t miss an episode.

Places We Have Played Album
My non-genetic twin, Al Smith, and I like to play in as many interesting ballparks, big and small, as we can find. Here’s our “collection.”

Sarah Sundin
Sarah is a World War II romance novelist who gets her history correct! Lots of good information on her blog.